Plastic spout for liquid containers



March 2, 1954 Q ALLEN PLASTIC spou'r FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS 3Sheets-Sheet l I FIG.2.

Filed Feb. 9, 1950 INVENTOR. CHESTER S. AI LEN BY ATTORNEY March 2, 1954c. s. ALLEN PLASTIC SPOUT FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledFeb. 9, 1950 JJJJJ 3: 33-41-31-333: 3:

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INVENTOR.

CHESTER S. ALLEN ATTORNEY March 2, 1954 c. S. ALLEN 2,670,885

PLASTIC SPOUT FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 9, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 5FIGJO.

FIG. l2.

- INVENTOR. CHESTER S. ALLEN ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, 1954 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,670,885 PLASTIC SPOUT Fort noun) ooix'r 'mmiiitsChester S. Allen, Warren, Pa. I Application February 9, 1950, --SerialNo. 143.230

'7 Claims. 1

"This invention relates to closures and in par ticular to closures forcontainers of volatile fluid such as lighter liquid and spot remover.

It has been a practice heretofore to supply such volatile fluids in atype of small metal container containing four fluid ounces having anapertured flat top and an upstanding metal neck with an externalcircumferential groove. The groove is designed to receive the metaldepending skirt of a spout type metal closure element, the closureapplying operation being accomplished, for example, by a so-calledCallahan capping machine, which squeezed the closure skirtcircumrerentia'ny and caused the metal of the skirt to press or flowinto and fill the external groove of'th'e can neck. This operation wouldfrequently produce a satisfactory hermetical "seal between the spoutskirt and the can neck, but due to the rigidity and inherent lack ofresilience in the parts constituting this metal to metal seal,subsequentyibration or .joltihg in normal shipping or handling toofrequently disrupted the sealing connection and thus permitted theinflammable fluid contents of the canto escape. The hazards of thisconventional closure became well-known and damage experience becames'ufiiciently important as to create serious insurance, safety andindemnity problems.

"This artof closures for fluid containers is characterized by largevolume and small unit value, hence solution of the fundamental problem,that is, how to maintain the durable and effective seal between spoutskirt and can'neck, necessarily was accomplished within narrow costlimits for material, labor and equipment and, oicourse, the idealsbliition would be eliminating the difficulties in such'ma'nner as toenable the use of pre-exi'stent equipment.

It therefore an object of the present invention speedily andeconomically to provide a tight and durable seal between can and spout.

'It is another object of the invention to provide a plastic spout to fitaround the outside of the can heck.

it is another object of the invention to provide ablastic cap for theplastic spout Which Will .fiiovide an efiicient closure for the spoutafter the latter has been opened.

It-is another object of the invention'to prov de a plastic spoilt With alengthened skirt to facilita'te the capping peration.

'It is another object of the invention to provide a plastic spout designwhich maybe made up in colors corresponding to or contrasting with thecolors of the can.

another 'obiec't 6f the invention to provide 2 a closure element forcontainers of inflammable fluids comprising plural plastic elementswhich may be similarly or difierentially colored, respectively.

It is also an object of the invention to .Iiiovide a spout design whichwillpr'event leakage without requiring modification of the standard canneck and is adapted for convenient use in the conventional Callahancapping machines and other machines of 'stanqa'rd type and practice.

The above and further objects of the invention will be understood 'byreferring to the following detailed description read in connection withthe ac ompanying drawings wherein I Fig. 1 is a fragmentary eiip'lodedview showing the can and completed closure, with the plastic spout tap;a

Fig. 2 shows an ehlai'gd i/eitibal section of the can spout and spouttap after assembly and before opening;

Fig. 3 shows the spent a proaching "the capping machine;

Fig. 4 shows the action of the capping machine onthe spout,- I

Fig. '5 shows schematically in elevation "one mechanism for applying the"new spout "to the cans on a moving 'belt;

, Fig. '6 a fragmentary section taken on the lineB"6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a schematic "view showing adaptation of the present"method'to an arrangement similar to the conventional Callahan caliper;

Fig. '8 'is'an enlarged view of the "adapting tool shown in Fig. 7';

Fig. 9 is 'a schematic view in elevation showing method for attachingthe plastic spout to a plurality of cans simultaneously;

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. '9; I

11 is an emerged detail showing another mechanism for applying theplastic spout to the can, this being designed primarily for individualmanual operation; and i Fig. 12 is a perspective view of -the pressureplate shown in Fig. 11. v

Referring to the drawings wherein identical parts are indicated bysimilar referent:e'iiuinerals, the metal tan it for lighter fluid orspot remover has a metal top 20 surmounted by a plastic spout or cap 2|constituting important aspect of the invention. Spent '21 has a'base-2'2 and upwardly a finish lobe '23 formed in the molding process. Thefinish lobe "23 is formed integrally with the spout 2| and is abruptlyreduced in section at the unction thereof with thespout'fl forfaci litat'iii'g the severance of the finish Io'be from the plastic spout. Itwill be understood thatthe finish lobe is readily separable by a knifeor with the fingernail when it is desired to open the container sealedin the practice of this invention. A plastic cap 24 surmounts the spoutand protects lobe 23 before opening and seals the spout againstaccidental spillage or leaking after opening.

The details of construction of the present cap are particularly shown inFig. 2 wherein top 20 of can l9 has the usual aperture 25 communicatingwith upstanding neck 21 the latter having a circumferential grooveforming an upper annulus 29. Spout 30 is preferably made of coloredplastic of such a composition that it is flexible, proof againstdeterioration or dissolution by volatile or corrosive liquids andpossessed of a greasy surface feel, the latter being of particularinterest in that it facilitates the placing of the spout on the neck toseal the can as hereinafter described.

Spout 30 has a skirt 3! depending from base 22, such skirt, it beingimportant to note, is at least one-sixteenth of an inch longer thanprevious spouts, the purpose or this additional length being to aid inuniting the cap and the neck. The skirt provides additional material sothat the operator may place the spout on the neck of the can prior tosubjecting it to the capping machine and the spout-mounted can may thenmove along the assembly line or link belt without being accidentallydislodged. The purpose of providing the additional length on the skirt3! at least i% of an inch longer than previous spouts is to insure, bythe resilient nature of the plastic material forming the spout, a snugengagement about the neck of the container below the sealing ring 39.That is to say, if the sealing ring 39 has moved to a position engagingbeneath the beaded neck of the container the cylindrical skirt extends asufiicient distance to establish a snug contact with the smooth exteriorwall of the neck. Thus the resilient interior surface of the cylindricalpart of the neck serves initially to position the spout on the neck ofthe container while the container is being moved along the assembly lineas part of the process in applying the spout to the container, andthereafter the resilient interior wall serves to grip and maintain thespout in fixed position on the neck with the triple seal effectedbetween sealing ring 39 and the exterior of the neck of the container;between the sealing shoulder 40 and the top of the neck of thecontainer; and the seal effected between the resilient ring 44 and theinterior of the neck of the container. The fact that the plasticmaterial from which the spout is formed is resilient in nature insuresyieldability of the sealing portion sufficiently to effect a dependablefluid tight closure. The relatively short skirt of conventional spoutsis wholly inadequate for effecting the type of seal accomplished in theclosure of my invention. Moreover, a spout formed from metal, such aslead, does not possess the quality of resiliency possessed by theplastic material from which the spout of my invention is formed, so thatsuch metallic or lead spouts have necessitated additional operationsthereon for effecting a seal. Such operations are unnecessary inapplying the plastic spout of my invention.

Referring again to Fig. 2, spout 30 has a flat top or upper surface 32which is useful in applying the cap to the neck during the closureoperation.

Angle 33 between tapering spout 30 and flat top 32 may, of course, bearbitrary within limits of the art but its relation to angle 35determining the inclination of the sides of cap 24 must be such that theinner wall of cap 24 when inserted firmly on the spout 39 will tend tobind thereto and thus prevent leakage after the spout has been opened asin use. For example, angle 33 may be 100 and angle 35 may be 95.

Externally the plastic cap 24 has vertical grooves which strengthen thestructure, impart a pleasing ornamental appearance thereto and aid inthe molding process and the means of plastic injection which may be usedin manufacture of cap 24.

The spout 38 is provided with a continuous recess 31 extending axiallythereof. At the bottom the spout skirt 3| is preformed to have aninternal integral annular sealing ring 39 for snugly connecting ingroove 28 in neck 21. In this assembly inherent possibility ofdislocation or breaking of the seal by vibration or accident is veryslight due to the resilient nature of they plastic material employed informing of spout 30 and due to the particular construction of thecooperating parts as illustrated. Top 32 of the spout is provided on itsundersurface with a supplementary sealing shoulder 40 which closelyengages the top of the neck 21 and concentrically with an inner andlonger supplementary sealing shoulder 4! which extends into the neckaperture to provide a third sealing agent.

It will be apparent from the above that the space relation betweenpreformed sealing ring 39 and the concentric and cooperatingsupplementary rings 49 and 4| must be such that the fitting of sealingring 39 into groove 28 of the neck pulls the supplementary sealing ringsunder tension to bear closely upon the respective adjacent portions ofthe neck structure. From the foregoing it will be apparent that spillingis pre-' vented by ring 4| which prevents the fluid from emerging fromthe neck. Any slight amount to escape is prevented from flowing over thetop of the neck by ring 40, and a final hermetical seal is providedexternally of the neck by the intimate placement of plastic sealing ring39 in metal groove 28.

The invention described not only provides a perfect seal to protectagainst subsequent leakage,

damage and indemnity problems but the structure is so designed as to beeconomical and conveniently attachable by conventional mechanisms, ormanually.

A simple method for applying the spout to cans is indicated in Fig. 5which utilizes the split pulley shown in Fig. 3. As indicated at theleft in Fig. 5 the cans are subjected to a split pulley press or corkingwheel 43 comprising opposed rims 44 and 44a which by engaging the uppersurface of base 22 of the spout press the latter downwardly in intimatesealing contact with the neck of the can. The cans are carried upon alink belt conveyor 45 having clamps 46 thereon for holding the cans inspaced relation. When electric motor 41 is actuated to drive the pulley43 in a counter-clockwise direction and the link belt conveyor in aclockwise direction capping and sealing proceeds rapidly, it being onlynecessary that the operator repeatedly place cans in the clamps 46 atthe left of corking wheel 43 and then place the plastic cap with thelengthened skirt upon the top of the neck of each can before it isadvanced rightward to the cork ing wheel. As will be apparent in Figs. 3and 4 the split pulley or corking wheel 43 does the rest. In Fig. 3 thespout rests upon the neck befor receiving the pressure of the wheel. InFig.

5. a the spout is subject to the wheel which dbwnwa'rdly on the spout tocause sealing ing 38- to press outwardly over neck an'n 2 9 thereaftersnapping into sealing positionin groove 28 as shown in Fig. 2. a 3another mechanism shown Fig. f7 a convenient adapter 48 is provided foruse" inth'e Callahan capper. By removing the conventional clincher headon the Callahan capper it is possible to use a piece of steel rod 48threaded at 49 on its upper end 5| with corresponding SAE thread thatwill fit the Callahan capper fragmentarily shown at 50 in Fig. 7. Ashort piece of one-half inch inside diameter pipe 52 welded to thissteel rod and then either flanged out slightly as shown at 53 or builtup slightly with weld may be used, the fianging out being described toprevent cutting action when the capper head is depressed on the spout.When the spout is set lightly on the can and placed under the capperhead, depressing the latter completes the seating action of the plasticspout which cooperates with the can neck as shown in Figs. 4 and 2.

Another mechanism by which the invention may be practiced is shown inFig. 9 for filling multiple cans simultaneously, twelve beingillustrated. The cans may be placed on a tray 55 having suitable frames56 and the press provided with a two inch square steel 5! drilled largeenough to accept one spout in each hole. The steel is provided withholes 59 and attached to head 60 by screws 6|. The press 63 has hose 64connecting to control mechanism (not shown). As shown in Fig. 10,suitable brackets 65 and 85a may be used to fix the press to any sturdyupright support or body 61.

A manual capper of simple design is shown in Figs. 11 and 12. This maybe used for individual capping in sequence and is utilized manually. Themanual capper comprises a base plate 69 having guide track 1| at one endand spaced support bolts 7212 at the other end and spring plate 13.Plate 13 has at one end holes 15 for the spaced bolts and at the otherend is bifurcated to provide parallel fingers I1 and 11a having space 19therebetween through which the spout may be advanced. Fingers 11 and 11aare curved upwardly at 80, see Fig. 11 so that when the can with mountedspout is moved to the left with the spout between the fingers 11 and Ha,the curvature of the spring will depress the spout to cause its innerrings to engage the neck of the can in useful hermetical seal.

A preferred type of material for the plastic is polyethylene, commonlyknown in the trade as polythene and the cap is molded under a pressureof the order of 13,000 lbs. per square inch (guage press of 600-700#) ata temperature of 100 F. The injection and gating may be done from thesmall end of the spout.

What is claimed is:

1. A plastic spout for liquid containers of the externally beaded necktype, comprising a tapered spout of plastic material terminating in astretchable elongated skirt having an internal sealing means thereinresiliently engageable with the beaded neck of a container, said spoutincluding an integral internal ring member spaced inwardly from theelongated skirt and depending downwardly and extendible into the neck ofa container for establishing through the flexibility of said internalring member an inner seal for the inside of the said neck, an integraldownwardly projecting internal ring memher carried by said spoutintermediate the stretchable elongated skirt and said aforementionedinternal ring member for establishing contacting relation with the upperannular peripher -oi the neck of the container for formin'g a sealtherewith, the said internal sealing means of said elongated skirt, andboth of "said internal r'ingmembers, having such spacing and resiliencythat is moved into engagement over the beaded neck of the container saidintegral internal ring member and said integral downwardly projectinginternal ring member are placed under tension with respect to the neckof said container whereby coacting liquid-tight seals are establishedbetween said spout and the beaded neck of the container.

2. A plastic spout for liquid containers of the externally beaded necktype as set forth in claim in which the internal sealing means in saidstretchable elongated skirt is constituted by an inwardly directedresilient ring member disposed on the inside wall of said elongatedskirt and operative to establish connection with the beaded containerneck.

3. A plastic spout for liquid containers of the externally beaded necktype as set forth in claim 1, in which the internal sealing means insaid stretchable elongated skirt is constituted by a stretchable plasticbead adapted to establish sealing connection with the outside surface ofthe beaded container neck.

4. A plastic spout for liquid containers of the externally beaded necktype as set forth in claim 1, in which the internal sealing means insaid stretchable elongated skirt is constituted by a resilient inwardlyextending annular sealing ring formed from plastic material andterminating in annular offset relation to said first mentioned integralinternal ring member for establishing sealing connection with theexternal surface of the beaded container neck.

5. A plastic spout for liquid containers of the externally beaded necktype as set forth in claim 1, in which the internal sealing means insaid stretchable elongated skirt is constituted by an inwardly directedstretchable plastic bead annularly offset from both of said internalring members for establishing connection with the outside surface ofsaid beaded container neck.

6. A plastic spout for liquid containers of the externally beaded necktype as set forth in claim 1, in which the internal sealing means insaid stretchable elongated skirt is constituted by an inwardly directedstretchable plastic sealing ring extending in a horizontal plane whichextends beneath the lower extremity of said first mentioned integralinternal ring member of said spout.

7. A plastic spout for liquid containers of the externally beaded necktype as set forth in claim 1, in which the internal sealing means insaid stretchable elongated skirt is provided with a re silient inwardlydirected annular rounded projection wherein the top of said annularrounded projection is connected through a curved surface with the insideof said spout in a position adjacent said second mentioned internal ringmember and wherein the bottom of said annular rounded projection isconnected through a curved surface with a straight wall forming theinside of said elongated skirt.

CHESTER S. ALLEN.

(References on following page) when said internal sealing means- 7References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Hothersall Dec. 18, 1923 5 'Iebo June 2, 1925 Wesseler Aug.21, 1928 Bailey Nov. 2, 1937 Number 8 Name Date Killmeyer July 11, 1939Rentschler Sept. 15, 1942 Harris May 30, 1944 Wetherill Feb. 14, 1950Collins Oct. 16, 1951 Filger Dec. 4, 1951

